Connecting device of elastic exercise cord with straps

ABSTRACT

The present invention involves a connecting device of elastic exercise cord with straps, which comprises a hollow body ( 12 ) provided by a through-made channel ( 13 ) with an upper opening ( 14 ) and a lower opening ( 15 ), wherein into the upper opening ( 14 ) arms ( 7,8 ) of a strap ( 3 ) are introduced first by its upper section ( 9 ), these arms ( 7,8 ) are passed through the channel ( 13 ) and bended over the edge of the lower opening ( 15 ) about 180° and the arms ( 7,8 ) are arranged along outer surface of the hollow body ( 12 ) up to the outer edge of the upper opening ( 14 ), wherein above the upper opening ( 14 ) the lower sections ( 10 ) of the arms ( 7,8 ) of the strap ( 3 ) are joined with upper section ( 9 ) to one joint, wherein the hollow body ( 12 ) with above mentioned arrangement of arms ( 7,8 ) is arranged in the cavity ( 16 ) of the tubing core ( 2 ) and this joint of the lower sections ( 10 ) of arms ( 7,8 ) of the strap ( 3 ) with upper sections ( 9 ) is together with the tubing core ( 2 ) provided by a collet ( 17 ) and the outer surface of the hollow body ( 12 ) together with portion of the strap ( 3 ) is wrapped.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns elastic exercise cord, more exactly theconstruction of a connecting device of elastic exercise cord withstraps.

2. Description of the Related Art

There exist exercise equipment for training with elastic exercise cordshown schematically in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 is then presented one ofvariant how to use such equipment.

Such elastic exercise cord of an elderly type is known from documentU.S. Pat. No. 5,205,803 B1. Cord is made as elastic full cord withoutany cavity in its center and is provided on both ends with a strap inthe form of a loop. In the inner part of strap, which is covered by thesleeve member, an eye from the strap is made, through which the end ofthe cord is passed-through. Then the end of the cord is bent and fastattached again to the cord and so a joint is created. Nevertheless theeye from the strap is not tough enough and creating the eye iscomplicated.

Such elastic exercise cord 1 is known from document U.S. Pat. No.6,202,263 B1. Cord 1 is made of an elastic tubing core 2, which is madeas an elastic hollow hose provided on both ends with a strap 3 in theform of a loop. The elastic tubing core 2 is provided by a sleeve member4 in the form of the longitudinal collapsible hollow sleeve or a tube,which is on its ends tightly fastened to elastic tubing core 2 or thestraps 3.

In FIG. 2 one of variant how to train with such elastic exercise cord 1is shown. It can be seen, how the cord 1 is griped by the strap 3 byperson. And particularly the connection between the tubing core 2 andthe strap 3 is the subject of the invention. This area is indicated as Din FIG. 1

In the above mentioned document U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,263 B1 several typesof connecting devices of elastic exercise cord with the straps arepresented. Part of them is based on the principle, where a knot from thetubing core is made and thereby the core is fixed on a steel attachmentmembers with hooks, by which the straps are fixed. In other embodimentsthe knot is substituted by a ball fixed in the hollow hose of the tubingcore, which creates an analogy to the knot. This fixation is not safeand in consequence of possible defect of material the strap could betorn off. In one embodiment is the connection made by an eye, which hasa protrusion, which is fixed in the cavity of the hollow hose of thetubing core and the strap is pulled through this eye. Although the eyefixes the strap securely, the fixation of the eye is the cavity of thetubing core is not stable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above drawbacks are eliminated to a large extend by connectingdevice of elastic exercise cord with straps according to the inventionwhich comprises a hollow body provided by a through-made channel with anupper opening and a lower opening, wherein into the upper opening armsof a strap are introduced first by its upper section (9), these arms arepassed through the channel and bended over the edge of the lower openingabout 180° and the arms are arranged along outer surface of the hollowbody up to the outer edge of the upper opening, wherein above the upperopening the lower sections of the arms of the strap are joined withupper section to one joint, wherein the hollow body with above mentionedarrangement of arms is arranged in the cavity of the tubing core andthis joint of the lower sections of arms of the strap with uppersections (9) is together with the tubing core provided by a collet andthe outer surface of the hollow body together with portion of the strapis wrapped.

In an illustrative embodiment the outer surface of the hollow body isprovided by roughening.

In another illustrative embodiment the hollow body with introduced strapis together with tubing core provided by a collet.

The aim of the invention is to present a new construction of connectingmechanism for safe connection of the tubing core to the strap, whichshould secure a safe and long-life connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention itself will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of the prior art elastic exercisecord in an unloaded state.

FIG. 2 is an example of the manner of the training with the elasticexercise cord of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view on a strap before its fixation to the cordaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the construction of the connectingmechanism for safe connection of the cord to the strap, shown in FIG. 3according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a complete view on the end of the exercise cord with the strapaccording to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. Although the drawings representembodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarilyto scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to betterillustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification setout herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention in any manner.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed below is/are not intended to be exhaustive orlimit the invention to the precise form disclosed in the followingdetailed description. Rather, the embodiment is chosen and described sothat others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.

In FIG. 1 an area D, where the tubing core 2 is attached to the strap 3in the form of a loop is indicated. And particularly in FIG. 4 a detailof the mutual arrangement between the tubing core 2 and the strap 3 inthis area D is illustrated.

The tubing core 2 shown in the example is from the rubber. The sleevemember 4 shown in the example is made from polyamide. It is waterproof,the steam can go through, with UV protection and resistant to abrasion.On the ends of the sleeve member 4, the material is doubled for easiergrip and for higher resistance to abrasion and especially againstvigorous tugs. Due to the sleeve member 4 the elastic exercise cordacquires resilience in any type of use, provides the protection to theelastic tubing core 2 against external unfavorable influences and itprotects exercising person against the rupture of the elastic tubingcore 2 in case of its rupture. The length of the sleeve member 4determines the maximal length to which the cord can be extended. Theratio of unloaded length of the elastic tubing core 2 to the length ofthe sleeve member 4 is 1:2 up to 1:4, therefore the length of the sleevemember 4 can represent 200 up to 400% of unloaded length of the cordcore 2. In FIG. 2 the schematical cross-section of the elastic exercisecord 1 during training is presented. By a comparison of FIG. 1 and FIG.2 can be seen that the outside surfaces of the elastic tubing core 2 andof sleeve member 4 in the loaded state are basically parallel, in anunloaded state the sleeve member 4 is pleated.

In FIG. 3 for better definition of the invention the construction of theused strap 3 is schematically shown in detail and in state, in which itis applied in the first step of assemblage into the connecting device 5according to the invention.

It can be seen, that the strap 3, usually made from flat strap, isbended in half of its length and so the loop 6 is created, from whichtwo arms 7, 8 protrude. These arms 7, 8 have an upper section 9 andadjacent lower section 10 ended by free ends 11.

In the complete assembly in FIG. 4 is shown, that the main part of theconnecting device 5 is the hollow body 12 provided by through-madechannel 13 with an upper opening 14 and a lower opening 15. Into theupper opening 14 the arms 7, 8 of the strap 3 are introduced and that byits upper section 9. They are passed through the channel 13 and bendedover the edge of the lower opening 15 about 180° and the arms 7, 8 areled along outer surface of the hollow body 12 back to the outer edge ofthe upper opening 14. Over the upper opening 14 the lower sections 10 ofthe arms 7, 8 of the strap 3 are joined to the upper sections 9 to onejoint. The hollow body 12 with above mentioned arrangement of arms 7, 8is pressed into the cavity 16 of the tubing core 2. Afterwards the bunchof the lower sections 10 of the arms 7,8 of the strap 3 with uppersections 9, which is arranged also in the cavity 16 of the tubing core2, tough hooped together with the tubing core 2 by a collet 17 and abovethe collet 17 only free ends 11 of the strap 3 are protruded. Beforeinserting into the cavity 16 of the tubing core 2, the hollow body 12with on its outer surface arranged portion of the strap 3 is provided byadhesive tape or contraction foil for better compactness and easierinsertion into the cavity 16. The channel 13 is for illustrationpurposes relatively large, in real it can be smaller to enable smallerdimensions of the hollow body 12 for its easier insertion into thecavity 16 of the tubing core 2.

For enhancement of the attachment of the hollow body 12 its surface canbe provided by not shown roughening.

The sleeve member 4 is then jointed by sews 18 with arms 7, 8 of thestrap 3. The sews 18 are going also through the end covering cap 19 withthe length of about 10 inches, which can be sewed from the inside. Theend cap 19 serves to the enhancement of immediately vigorous tugs if themaximum length of the cord is achieved and to more compact arrangementaround the tubing core 2 in the area of the grip.

The hollow body 12 with introduced strap 3 can be secured together withtubing core 2 provided by a collet (not shown).

In FIG. 5 a complete view on the end of the exercise cord with the strap3 is presented. It can be seen that the end cap 19 is sewed through bylongitudinal sew 20 with length of about 16 inches with the sleevemember 4, so the cap 19 together with sleeve member 4 copy as much aspossible the shape connection with the tubing core 2.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design,the present invention may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. Connecting device of elastic exercise cord withstraps, which comprises a hollow body (12) provided by a through-madechannel (13) with an upper opening (14) and a lower opening (15),wherein into the upper opening (14) arms (7,8) of a strap (3) areintroduced first by its upper section (9), these arms (7,8) are passedthrough the channel (13) and bended over the edge of the lower opening(15) about 180° and the arms (7,8) are arranged along outer surface ofthe hollow body (12) up to the outer edge of the upper opening (14),wherein above the upper opening (14) the lower sections (10) of the arms(7,8) of the strap (3) are joined with upper section (9) to one joint,wherein the hollow body (12) with above mentioned arrangement of arms(7,8) is arranged in the cavity (16) of the tubing core (2) and thisjoint of the lower sections (10) of arms (7,8) of the strap (3) withupper sections (9) is together with the tubing core (2) provided by acollet (17) and the outer surface of the hollow body (12) together withportion of the strap (3) is wrapped.
 2. Connecting device according tothe claim 1, characterized in, that the outer surface of the hollow body(12) is provided by roughening.
 3. Connecting device according to theclaim 1, characterized in, that the hollow body (12) with introducedstrap (3) is together with tubing core (2) provided by a collet. 4.Connecting device according to the claim 2, characterized in, that thehollow body (12) with introduced strap (3) is together with tubing core(2) provided by a collet.
 5. Connecting device according to the claim 1,characterized in, that the arms (7,8) of the strap (3) are connectedwith the sleeve member (4) by sews (18).
 6. Connecting device accordingto the claim 2, characterized in, that the arms (7,8) of the strap (3)are connected with the sleeve member (4) by sews (18).
 7. Connectingdevice according to the claim 3, characterized in, that the arms (7,8)of the strap (3) are connected with the sleeve member (4) by sews (18).8. Connecting device according to the claim 4, characterized in, thatthe arms (7,8) of the strap (3) are connected with the sleeve member (4)by sews (18).
 9. Connecting device according to the claim 1,characterized in, that over the sleeve member (4) an end covering cap(19) is slipped on, which is sewed through with the strap (3) by innersews (18) and the longitudinal outer sew (20) is sewed through with thesleeve member (4) as close as possible to the tubing core (2). 10.Connecting device according to the claim 2, characterized in, that overthe sleeve member (4) an end covering cap (19) is slipped on, which issewed through with the strap (3) by inner sews (18) and the longitudinalouter sew (20) is sewed through with the sleeve member (4) as close aspossible to the tubing core (2).
 11. Connecting device according to theclaim 3, characterized in, that over the sleeve member (4) an endcovering cap (19) is slipped on, which is sewed through with the strap(3) by inner sews (18) and the longitudinal outer sew (20) is sewedthrough with the sleeve member (4) as close as possible to the tubingcore (2).
 12. Connecting device according to the claim 4, characterizedin, that over the sleeve member (4) an end covering cap (19) is slippedon, which is sewed through with the strap (3) by inner sews (18) and thelongitudinal outer sew (20) is sewed through with the sleeve member (4)as close as possible to the tubing core (2).
 13. Connecting deviceaccording to the claim 5, characterized in, that over the sleeve member(4) an end covering cap (19) is slipped on, which is sewed through withthe strap (3) by inner sews (18) and the longitudinal outer sew (20) issewed through with the sleeve member (4) as close as possible to thetubing core (2).
 14. Connecting device according to the claim 6,characterized in, that over the sleeve member (4) an end covering cap(19) is slipped on, which is sewed through with the strap (3) by innersews (18) and the longitudinal outer sew (20) is sewed through with thesleeve member (4) as close as possible to the tubing core (2). 15.Connecting device according to the claim 7, characterized in, that overthe sleeve member (4) an end covering cap (19) is slipped on, which issewed through with the strap (3) by inner sews (18) and the longitudinalouter sew (20) is sewed through with the sleeve member (4) as close aspossible to the tubing core (2).
 16. Connecting device according to theclaim 8, characterized in, that over the sleeve member (4) an endcovering cap (19) is slipped on, which is sewed through with the strap(3) by inner sews (18) and the longitudinal outer sew (20) is sewedthrough with the sleeve member (4) as close as possible to the tubingcore (2).